Cradle for carbonating soda or other mineral waters



(No Model.)

, A. D. BUFFER; v I 'GRADLE FOR GARBONATING SODA OR OTHER MINERALWATERS.

No. 347,378. Patented Aug. 17, 188 6.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVIN D. PUFFER, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CRADLE FOR CARBONATING SODA OR OTHER MINERAL WATERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 347,378, dated August17, 1886. Application filed April 3, 1886. Serial No. 197,634. Nomodel.)

i To all whom it may concern.-

as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, andto letters or figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to soda-water apparatus for aerating orcarbonating soda or other mineral waters contained in fountains, socalled; and it consists,in the present instance,in improvements in thestructural arrangement, manner of mounting, and operation of a cradlefor carbonating soda or other mineral waters.

One essential feature I is in mounting the cradle, upon which aresupported and removably-s'ecured a series of fountains, and vibrating itupon a rocker-plate or segmental standard; hence, when the cradle is inmotion, the point of support or pivot changes more slowly and is for themost of the time to one side of the center of gravity of the cradle andits series of fountains. Thus it is evident that the weight of thecradle and its component parts serves and tends to return said structureto a normal or horizontal position, in consequence of which thefountains are more easily rocked and their contents more thoroughlycarbonated, or aerated, as the case may be.

A second and more prominent feature is in the arrangement upon thecradle-frame of the supply-pipes, valves, andother fittings whichconnect the fountains inseries. By this method of attaching the saidpipes and valves upon the cradle-frame the fountains and all theconnecting apparatus are stationary with respect to each other, andhence there is little or no wear. Usually, in the methods now andheretofore-practiced, the fountains are rocked, While the supply-pipesand regulating-valves are stationary at a from the cradle.

A third feature in my invention is in the disposition of springs securedto the cradle, transversely of its longitudinal axis of vibration,whereby said vibrations of the cradle may be continued, not only for alonger period point separate and distinct of time, but more easily,while the change in the direction of such vibrations may be renderedless abrupt, and sudden shocks andjars to the apparatus therebyprevented.

The drawing represents in a perspective View a cradle containing aseries of fountains for carbonating purposes, and embodying the severalfeatures of my invention. In said drawing one of the series of fountainshas been removed.

In such drawing, A represents a stout rectangular frame composed of twolongitudinally-disposed pieces, B B, suitably united. Such frame issurmounted by a second frame ,or bed, A, composed of the pieces 0 G D D,which support the fountains E E, serially disposed transversely of thecradle andresting upon said bed A. Beneath this frame or cradleA, and ateach end, I have securely affixed two curved metallic rockers orsegmental standards, F F, which are strengthened and braced together bya longitudinallydisposed stringer, a. The active or hearing faces ofthese rocker-standards F are convex and provided with peripheral teethI) 1), adapted to engage in corresponding slots, recesses, or detents c0, formed in the plane upper surface of bearing-plates G G. Thisarrangement is to prevent slip when the pivot or point of support isremoved and considerable distance to one side the center of gravity ofthe cradle,as

, in the extreme of a vibration.

Transversely disposed with respect to the axis of vibration are four ormore springs, ff, bolted or otherwise suitably fastened, at one end tothe strut a, and at their opposite or active extremities provided withanti-friction rollers g 9. Thus, when the apparatus is being activelyemployed in the carbonating or aerating of liquid contained within theseries of fountains mounted on the cradle, and at the end of eachextreme of vibration,such springs are compressed against theirtension,and thus store up power which otherwise would be lost, while therollers reduce the friction upon the floor supporting thecradle; hencethe momentum of the cradle and fountains carried thereon, due to eachvibration, is gradually and gently diminished and overcome, and nosudden shock or severe strain or thrust is brought upon any of the partswhich might tend to displace or break the latter were such vibrationssuddenly checked.

Hitherto in apparatus of this class the fount ains have been supportedand rocked upon an ordinary shaft, centrally located of the structureand suitably journaled; but it is evident by this method that when thestructure is tipped and the liquid contained within the fountains hasgravitated toward the depressed ends of the closed vessels, the centerof body of the structure is below the pivot or point of support, and inconsequence there is no tendency of the cradle to recover itsequilibrium or horizontal balance since the pivot remains fixed.

In my present arrangement of the toothed segment or standard, it is veryapparent that as the body is tilted the pivot or center of support movestoward the lowest part of the cradle which itsnstains, and thereby thecenter of gravity of the body is separated from the center of support,and a strong force or couple is produced to return the cradle with itsseries of fountains back to a position where the two centers that ofsupport and gravity-are in thesamc vertical plane. This feature Iconsider to be of very great importance, since in my method ofconstructing the cradle the weight of the superstructure, with theseries of fountains, especially when filled, all act unitedly tomaintain and assist the vibrations of the cradle in its efforts toreturn to rest, and such vibrations will therefore be continued for alonger interval of time, which is the object sought. In the methodheretofore practiced this weight is to be overcome and acts as anopposing force to stop any vibration. Again, in the mode of connectingthe fountains, the latter were rocked, while the supply-pipcs andoperating-valves have been secured to a fixed or stationary support;hence there was continued wear upon such connecting fittings and leakageand waste were incurred.

In my improvements I have shown the main supply-pipe at h. This isunited with a fixed or secondary part or extension, 8, which is firmlyattached to the side piece, B, of the cradle-frame A. Laterally disposedthereof and likewise secured to the cradle isa series of valves,i i,which operate to regulate the supply of gas to be admitted to and withinthe fountains by means of the supply-pipejj.

Upon the front side of the apparatus I have erected a side frame, I-I,about which are coiled or wound the supply-pipcsjj. This arrangement isto prevent sway or movement of the said pipes, which would beaccompanied by chafing and wear incidental to the active employment ofthecradle. I11 fact,the gist of this part of my invention is to makeeach and every component part of the apparatus immovable with respect toeach other during the oscillations of the cradle. Thereby I obviate thewear and rapid deterioration of such parts, when each one has a distinctand separate movement, not only varying from each otherin rapidity, butlikewise in the direction it travels.

At I is represented a short pin or hand-bar,

by means of which the cradle is actuated in the process of carbonatingsoda or other mineral waters contained in the fountains; or in lieu ofthis a hand-lever, J, may be employed when the cradle is very large andheavy, at which time it is desirable to obtain a greater leverage toovercome the increase inthe work.

As will be seen by the above description the cradle containing myimprovement, is compact, effective, easy of operation, and, moreover, itcontains, secured to it as integral portions, all the supply-pipes,valves, and fittings, which consequently partake of the same and haveequal motions'with the cradle and its fountains. This arrangement has adecided advantage over that heretofore employed, as thereby no frictionensues between the individual component parts, and wear and tear is verymuch diminished, if not entirely obviated. Moreover, the fittings remaintight for a much longer time.

I claim 1. A fountainsupporting frame provided with rocker-standardshaving teeth I) on their convex under edges, in combination with fixedplates provided with recesses which receive said teeth, substantially asset forth.

2. A cradle for carbonating soda or other mineral waters, upon which aresecured a series of removable fountains containing the liquid, thesupply connecting pipes and valves rigidly fastened to said cradle,whereby all the component parts move in unison during the vibrations ofthe cradle, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with aseries of fountains mounted upon a vibratingcradle, substantially as described, to which are firmly affixed thesupply connecting pipes and valves of said fountains, the extensionsupportingbar H, by means of which the supply-pipes jj are rendered anintegral part of the apparatus and are thus moved in unison with thecradle-frame, as herein stated.

4. A fountain-supporting frame provided with rocker-standards havingperipheral teeth I), in combination with fixed plates having recesses ordetents c, which engage with said teeth, and the springs g, extendingfrom the sides of said cradle, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

5. In general combination, the cradle-frame A, vibrating upon thesegmental rockers F F, and bearing-plates G G, the springs ff, theseries of fountains E, with the main supplypipes h s andconnecting-valves z z, the extension-bar H, about which the secondarysupply-pipes jj are coiled, and the lever J, all vibrating as anentirety, and co-operating substantially for purposes herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

ALVIN D. PUFFER.

IVitnesses:

H. E. LODGE, E. K. BoYN'roN.

